Soldering iron



C. L. LUDWIG SOLDERING IRON Aug. 22, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Nm-Imi C. L. LUDWIG SOLDERING IRON Aug. 2z, 195o Filed Jan. 29, 1945 INVENTOR. CARI. L. LUDWIG BY l ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES iaihi'i FFICE.

SGLDERING IRON Carl L. Ludwig, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 29, 1945, Serialiio. 575,ii62

(Cll58--25) Z Ciairns.

This invention relates toi-measuring and-dispensing container devices, and more especially to dispensers adapted for repeat operation,` with particular reference to a device adapted yfor dispensing a molten liquid such as solder, the-invention also including the iron for use in the soldering operation.

rThis application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 519,289 nled January 22, 1944, now Patent No. 2,458,035, granted January 4, 1949.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple,v practical and eiiicient article of the character described.

Another object is to provide a combination solderingr iron and dispenser for liquid solder heatediin vthe iron.

A further object of the invention is to provide a soldering iron and solder dispenser adapted ier dispensing measured quantities oi solder, at intervals, as desired.

A further object is to provide a combination soldering iron and molten solder dispensery adapted for dispensing small measured quantities of liquid solder at intervals, such as a single drop at a time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a soldering iron having a self-contained supply in nld or :cici'ten state, whereinthe solder may be'di pensed at the hot point of the iron, and capable of operation in any position including a substantially vertical position with the solder being dispensed at the top of the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a soldering iron of the character described having a dispensing receptacle portion for a supply oi solder which may be heated by the heating means `for the iron.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following speciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a longituinal sectional View of an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in section, showing the solder dispensing means in a partially actuated position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the same in the completelyl actuated position.

Fig. 5is a perspective view of a cartridge or supply of solder adapted forinsertion in the receptacle portion of the. ironv shown in Figs. l to 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, incentral section, showing a valve feature also shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the valve element in a different position from that of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken alongy the line iiilc of Fig. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

and e pecially to Figs. l to 4, I show a soldering iron which comprises anv elongated metallic frame member i5 to which a handle il is secured, as by'a recess i8 for the end of member I5 and a pin i9 extending through an aperture in the end of the frame member. FrameI member it is provided with a flanged portion 2@ having an internal threaded portion 2i for engagement with the threaded end of a casingand tool point member 22. Member '22 is provided with suitable lugs or ears 23 to facilitate turning movement thereof when being attached to and separated from ange 29,

Member 22 is provided with a tapered point or soldering tool tip portion 2li, which portion is provided with a, bore E through which extends a tubular member. 2t, a suitable pin 2i being provided in portion 24 for holding tubei in place. Casing Z provides a chamber it for the solder to be used in conjunction with the iron. Member 22 is formed with an internal, semi-spherical boss 2Q, and a bore 30 extends therethrough at one side of tube 26. A dispensing plungerV structure 3l is provided and comprises a plunger member 32 .which extends through a bore 33 in flange member 2@ and is provided witha bore .Si by Which it is slidable on tubular member 24B, tubular member 2b having a bore 35 in communication therewith. Plunger SZ-has an enlarged lower end portion or closure having a semi-spherical recess 3i adapted for intertting engagement with semi-spherical boss 29. Bossi) has-a cylindrical portion 29a, and recess 3l has a cylindrical portion Sla co-operating portion Zea by which a quantity of solder may be entrapped in recess 3l and forced outwardly through bore 8 when the plunger is actuated, as will bemore fully apparent hereinafter.

A cap member S3 is secured as by threaded connection to the upper end of plunger member 32, and a lateral connection 53S is provided therefor, which in turn is connectedr by an elbow in and a pipel to a laterally extendingportion i2 of a valve body 43. A pipe 44 is connected to the upper end of valve body 43 and is reciprocable in a bore 45 in handle |1, and positions a spring 46 which is compressed between valve body 43 and handle I1. A pipe 41 extends through the upper end of handle |1 and is connected through a valve 48 to a tube 49, which may be connected to a. suitable source of gas, acetylene, or other desired fluid used for the production of heat. Pipe 41 extends into pipe 44 and may be suitably connected thereto so as to be reciprocable therewith and in handle |1, or pipe 41 may be rigidly secured in the handle and have sleeve action engagement with pipe 44, in which case suitable sealing means therebetween will be provided. Body 43 has a threaded end portion 50 to which is suitably secured a burner normally spaced a little distance from cap 38. A thumb piece 52 is secured as by one or more rivets 53 to valve body 43, and the inturned edge portion thereof is notched as at 54. A co-operating indexing device for notches 54 is provided and comprises a complementary notched plunger 55 which is reciprocable in a bore 56 in handle I1 and seated on a spring 58 in the bore.

In Fig. 5 I show a cartridge 59 comprising semicylindrical shapes of cold solder which may be inserted in casing member 22 and fit around tubular member 32 until melted by the heat of the iron.

The operation of the invention, as so ar described, should be clear from the foregoing description. Casing member 22 is provided with a supply of solder 59, as stated, by using the detachable threaded connection at 2|, and heat is applied to cap 38 by flame from burner 5| using gas or acetylene supply from tube 49, the valve 43a in valve body 43, which has T-shaped passages, being set in ,the position shown in Fig. 7. Heat from cap 38 will be transmitted to casing and tool point member 22, melting the solder and heating the tip 2a. During this heating period the plunger structure 3| will be retained in the extended position with enlarged end portion 36 of tubular member 28 retaining bore 38 closed and preventing escape of solder until the plunger is actuated. When it is desired to expel a quantity of solder the plunger is retracted by engagement of the thumb with thumb piece 52 permitting a quantity of liquid solder to run into recess 3l, as shown in Fig. 3, and a forward movement of the plunger will expel a small quantity of the solder through bore 3B and tip 24, as shown in Fig. 4.. The notch configuration 54 will permit the dispensing of small quantities of solder, and the notching arrangement may be such as to dispense as small a quantity as one drop at a time.

If it is desired to apply direct heat from the ame to the solder after it has been dispensed or to the surface which is being sold red, valve may be turned to the position shown in Fig. 6, and the gas will be conducted through pipe 4|, cap 38 and tubular members 32 and 26, and name may be maintained at the end of bore In Fig. 8 I show a modied form of the invention which comprises the soldering iron G8 having a frame member 6| provided with a tubular portion 52 secured to a handle 68 in any suitable manner. Member 8i has an enlarged cylindrical portion 64 providing a chamber 55 for a supply of solder. A soldering tool point or tip member (ifi is detachably secured, as by threaded connection 81, with cylindrical portion 64. Electrical means for hen-.ting the solder are provided and comprise a unit 58 formed as a hollow cylinder suitably positioned in cylindrical portion 64 through which extend terminals 89 for conductor wires 18 which are run through the bore in tubular member 52 and through the handle to a source of current. A plunger structure 3|a is provided which is substantially similar to structure 3| with the exception that a guide member 26a is provided and secured by a pin 21a to tip member 66. A tubular plunger member 32a is slidable on guide member 26a and extends through an opening in the upper end of cylindrical portion 64. A bracket member 1I is secured to member 32a and thumb piece 52 is suitably secured thereto. Spring 44 in the modiiication of Fig. 8 is seated on bracket 1| and compressed against handle 63.

In Figs. 9 and l0 I show another modified form of my invention. In these figures I show an iron having a frame member 15 provided with a flanged portion 16 threaded at 11 for detachable attachment of a casing and solder reservoir member 18. Casing 18 is threaded at 19 for attachment thereto of a taper pointed dispensing nozzle and soldering tool point member which is provided with a dispensing aperture 8|. A plunger structure 3|b is provided and includes a plunger and valve rod member 82 positioned with in casing member 18 and extending through a bore 83 in flange portion 16 of frame member 15. Member 82 is provided with a plurality of radially extending wings or spacers 84 which serve to center member 82 in the casing and to agitate the contained liquid solder.

The lower end of member 82 is cone-shaped, as shown, to form a valve 85, and a cylindrical end extension 8G, which extends into aperture 8|. Mem-ber 8G is provided with an annular seat 81 for valve 85, which seat may be inclined, as shown, or otherwise so formed as to facilitate the expulsion of the liquid solder through aperture 8| in small quantities, such as one drop at a time, at the same time preventing the expulsion of any more of the liquid. Member 82 has a tubular bore 88 open at the end through extension 86, which bore communicates with the interior of a cap member 38 secured to the upper end of member 82. Cap member 38 is similar in structure and function to the similarly numbered cap member in Fig. 1, and the remainder of the iron of Fig. 9 is substantially similar to that of Fig. l with the exception of the thumb piece 52a connected to valve body 43 which has the form shown, omitting the notched edge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser as described comprising a casing for a meltable solid which becomes fluid when heated having a dispensing aperture, a plunger having an enlarged end forming a closure and dispensing means including a jet yburner for said aperture extending through said casing, and means for heating;- said plunger and the contents of said casing, means including a tubular bore in said plunger for heating work being treated, and connection means for said `bore for a source of gas heat.

2. A dispenser as described comprising a casing for a meltable solid which becomes fluid when heated having a dispensing aperture, a plunger having an enlarged end forming a closure and dispensing means including a jet burner for said aperture extending through said casing, and means for heating said plunger and the contents of` said casing, means including a tubular bore in said plunger for heating work being treated, and means connecting said burners with a source of gas supply.

3. An article of the character described comprising an elongated frame having a handle at one end and a casing for a meltable solid which becomes iiuid when heated at the other end, said casing having an internal cylindrical boss having a dispensing aperture, a plunger in said casing having a cylindrical recess forming a closure for said aperture, and means for heating said casing, said plunger adapted when actuated to dispense fluid from said casing, whereby the molten solder collected in the recess can be dispensed by the plunger when the `article is positioned other than downwardly.

4. In a soldering iron, in combination, a frame, a handle thereon, a casing for a meltable solid which becomes fluid when heated on said frame spaced from said handle and having a tip formed with a dispensing aperture, a hollow dispensing plunger in said casing having an aperture closure and extending through a wall of said casing,

a hollow guide stem for said plunger extending through said tip, means to bias said plunger in an aperture closing position, an actuating member on said plunger adjacent said handle, and means to heat said casing, said heating means including a gas jet burner on said actuating member.

5. In a soldering iron, in combination, a frame, a handle thereon, a casing for a meltable solid which becomes fluid when heated on said frame spaced from said handle and having a tip formed with a dispensing aperture, a hollow dispensing plunger in said casing having an aperture closure and extending through a wall of said casing, a hollow guide stem for said plunger extending through said tip, means to bias said plunger in an aperture closing position, an actuating member on said plunger adjacent said handle, and means to heat said casing, said heating means including a jet burner on said actuating member and having a, gas supply conduit extending through said handle.

6. In a soldering iron, in combination, a frame, a handle thereon, a casing for a meltable solid which becomes fluid when heated on said frame spaced from said handle and having a tip formed with a dispensing aperture, a hollow dispensing plunger in said casing having an aperture closure and extending through a wall of said casing, a hollow guide stem for said plunger extending through said tip, means to bias said plunger in an aperture closing position, an actuating mem- -ber on said plunger adjacent said handle, and means to heat said casing, said heating means including a jet burner on said actuating member and a jet burner in said tip.

7. In a soldering iron, in combination, a frame, a handle thereon, a casing for a meltable solid which becomes iluid when heated on said frame spaced from said handle and having a tip formed with a dispensing aperture, a hollow dispensing plunger in said casing having an aperture closure and extending through a wall of said casing, a hollow guide stem for said plunger extending through said tip, means to bias said plunger in an aperture closing position, an actuating member on said plunger adjacent said handle, and means to heat said casing, said casing having an inwardly extending boss through which said aperture extends, said closure having an interfitting boss cavity.

CARL L. LUDWIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 223,945 Palmer Jan. 27, 1880 223,948 Palmer Jan. 27, 1880 761,010 Rodgers May 24, 1904 777,711 Ackerman Dec. 20, 1904 1,127,970 Dryfoos Feb. 9, 1915 1,341,497 Davies May 26, 1920 1,400,148 Frum Dec. 13, 1921 1,928,129 Hornack Sept. 26, 1933 2,068,728 Amos Jan. 26, 1937 

